Publications

Every year many incidents occur during transportation of Dry Ice (solid carbon dioxide) in inappropriate vehicles. Unfortunately, this frequently results in severe incidents. Many of these could have been avoided if basic safety rules had been followed. EIGA has developed a serious of publications aimed at helping customers to transport gases and Dry Ice more safely in "non dedicated" vehicles. This Safety Leaflet is intended to be shared with customers collecting Dry Ice packages from sites or retail centres. The leaflets explain the safety hazards and then describe the basic precautions to be taken to stay safe.

Every year many incidents occur during transportation of gas cylinders or cryogenic receptacles in inappropriate vehicles. Unfortunately, this frequently results in severe incidents. Many of these could have been avoided if basic safety rules had been followed. EIGA has developed a serious of publications aimed at helping customers to transport gases and Dry Ice more safely in "non dedicated" vehicles. This Safety Leaflet is intended to be shared with customers collecting cylinders or cryogenic receptacles from sites or retail centres. The leaflets explain the safety hazards and then describe the basic precautions to be taken to stay safe.

This publication marks the launch of a set of life saving rules which can be used in the industrial gas industry to mitigate risk and reduce fatalities and serious injuries. EIGA believes that if all workers in our industry follow a fundamental set of rules, many serious or potentially fatal accidents could be avoided. Life Saving Rules are intended to remind workers of the hazards and to refer to their local risk assessments. The rules were developed from knowledge of accidents and incidents, especially those which are particular to the gas industry. Each Rule consists of a simple icon and descriptive text, with additional detailed guidance to explain why the Rule is important and what aspects workers and supervisors should focus on. The rules are intended to be widely shared and in the end they may be used to reinforce existing in-company safety messages and/or to provide the basis of a safety culture in any member company. Member companies may wish to omit individual rules in order to best align with existing company safety rules and published programmes. Each Rule is also linked to relevant EIGA publications which provide guidance on controls and barriers which, if used properly, can prevent or avoid potentially fatal incidents. The publication of the main document (Doc 924) is accompanied with the publication of a brochure and poster as Safety Leaflets (SL 06 and SL 07) and a presentation as an EIGA Training Package (TP 46).

This publication marks the launch of a set of life saving rules which can be used in the industrial gas industry to mitigate risk and reduce fatalities and serious injuries. EIGA believes that if all workers in our industry follow a fundamental set of rules, many serious or potentially fatal accidents could be avoided. Life Saving Rules are intended to remind workers of the hazards and to refer to their local risk assessments. The rules were developed from knowledge of accidents and incidents, especially those which are particular to the gas industry. Each Rule consists of a simple icon and descriptive text, with additional detailed guidance to explain why the Rule is important and what aspects workers and supervisors should focus on. The rules are intended to be widely shared and in the end they may be used to reinforce existing in-company safety messages and/or to provide the basis of a safety culture in any member company. Member companies may wish to omit individual rules in order to best align with existing company safety rules and published programmes. Each Rule is also linked to relevant EIGA publications which provide guidance on controls and barriers which, if used properly, can prevent or avoid potentially fatal incidents. The publication of the main document (Doc 924) is accompanied with the publication of a brochure and poster as Safety Leaflets (SL 06 and SL 07) and a presentation as an EIGA Training Package (TP 46).

The Safety Leaflet is intended to promote the safe transport, use and storage of acetylene cylinders. It gives guidance on all aspects related to these activities.

The air we breathe contains about 21% oxygen. Without oxygen we would die in a matter of minutes. It may be hard to believe, but oxygen can be also dangerous! Every year several incidents are reported where workers’ oxygen enriched clothing catch fire. Fires in an oxygen enriched atmosphere start easily and are very intense, so people can suffer very serious burns, which are often fatal. This leaflet summarises the risks and hazards of oxygen enrichment, identifies common causes of enrichment and the precautions that should be taken and references the EIGA Life Saving Rule on the hazards of dealing with oxygen. Other EIGA documents that will help to train staff and create safe systems of work when using oxygen are referenced, including the recently revised Doc. 04 Fire Hazards of Oxygen and Oxygen Enriched Atmospheres.

Each year there are a number of deaths reported to EIGA that involve asphyxiation caused by industrial gases. The majority of these fatalities are caused by people entering a confined space where there is an oxygen deficient atmosphere, usually caused by the presence of an inert gas. EIGA believes that all workers should understand and search for potential asphyxiation hazards, in enclosed spaces as well as near to equipment containing gases or cryogenic liquids... take care and warn others. EIGA’s safety leaflet explains the common risks and hazards, the causes and effects of asphyxiation and provides basic guidance on procedures that should be observed to stay safe. It contains an outline summary of the hazards of inert gases, methods that can be used to control the risks in the workplace and provides references to other EIGA documents.

In Europe, the majority of all road accidents are fatigue- and distraction-related. Fatigue is a human condition and nobody can fight it. In some cases, drivers can easily recognize the first signs (yawning, blinking eyes). Despite the risk of accidents, some still believe they can fight fatigue, believe falling asleep behind the wheel cannot happen to them or even do not detect the first signs and continue their journey. Fatigue can also result in microsleeps which the driver may not be aware of. These can be caused by undiagnosed sleep apnoea. Today technologies exist which can detect the signs of fatigue. They can also detect microsleeps and wake the driver if the driver experiences a microsleep while driving. These technologies have proven efficient in assisting drivers and organizations to effectively manage the risk of accidents related to fatigue. They are capable of mapping the driver’s face and body and thanks to AI are able to identify deviations to the normal posture or position of the face/the body. The subject of fatigue is so serious that the EU transport commission has introduced new legislation. The European directive 2019/2144 of November 2019 requires all new heavy goods vehicles delivered to the market to be equipped with a fatigue and drowsiness detection system, applicable as of day, month 2024. These technologies are already commercially available. They have been implemented in many transport operations around the world, including EIGA members. Many lives have been saved. The effective implementation of these fatigue detection systems will mean a change for the drivers and for the logistics organizations. This document provides guidelines, based on lessons learned, to help ensure that these systems are successfully implemented. The effective implementation of this technology should be done in a structured and organized way as it constitutes a major change for drivers. It should include, in addition to the proper selection of the device, fair communication and the implementation of an effective programme to ensure the information is used for the benefit of the drivers.

Transporting dangerous goods by road is a high-risk potential activity largely due to the risks associated with the act of driving itself. A driver’s health and wellness play an important role in their capability to drive and transport dangerous goods safely. Therefore, this topic should be part of a transport safety management systems. Truck driving as a profession may promote an unhealthy lifestyle which can lead to chronic health conditions. Gas companies should encourage their own and contracted drivers to lead a healthy life and support them in the pursuit of this goal.

This Safety Information is intended to advise EIGA Members of dangers of using mobile cookers inside vehicle cabs and has been written following a driver fatality that was reported to EIGA. The use of mobile cookers in enclosed vehicle cabs can lead to the build-up of carbon monoxide and asphyxiation of the cab occupants